Retired Racehorse Project announced December 15, 2019 that applications are open for the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. Applications will be accepted through January 15, 2019, and accepted trainers will be announced on February 1, 2019.
Now in its fifth year in its current format and at its current location, the Thoroughbred Makeover features competition in 10 disciplines for recently-retired Thoroughbreds with less than 10 months of retraining for a second career. Disciplines include barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunters, freestyle, polo, show hunter, show jumper, and ranch work.
Horses and trainers will compete for $100,000 in total prize money, plus the coveted title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred (as determined by audience vote) at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 2-5, 2019. The Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium includes not just the competition, but educational seminars, a sponsor fair, the Makeover Marketplace horse sale and the Makeover Master Class featuring demonstrations and insight from leading trainers. The Finale features the top five horses in each discipline and will be livestreamed for viewers at home.
There is no need to have acquired a 2019 Makeover-eligible horse at the time of application, and professionals, amateurs and juniors are all encouraged to apply. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in at least one Makeover discipline through competition highlights, references and optional video links.
“Over the next 10 months, nearly 1,000 Thoroughbreds who are either recently retired from racing or who are winding down their on-track careers will receive a solid foundation of retraining, thanks to the hundreds of equestrians preparing to compete in the Thoroughbred Makeover,” said Jen Roytz, executive director of RRP. “The Thoroughbred Makeover is unlike any other equestrian competition in the world. There are a number of key updates in this year’s rules aimed at elevating the caliber and quality of the competition, including an expanded ‘team’ division. We encourage even those who have competed at the Makeover in the past to read through our expanded rulebook carefully and to contact us with any questions they might have.”
Approved trainers may acquire eligible Thoroughbreds through whatever source they choose, or can ride under contract for an owner. Eligible horses must have raced or had a published work on or after July 1, 2017 and must not have started retraining for a second career prior to December 1, 2018 other than a maximum of 15 allowable rides.
Thoroughbred Makeover Links:
